“It’s a bit like the Tour de France – maybe it’s the Tour de Dance.”
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The free performance will begin at 5pm this Saturday, August 3, on the lake behind HOTA (Home of the Arts), with music by Gold Coast composer Cold Ghost.
Bleach artistic director Rosie Dennis has wanted to stage a 24-hour dance piece for five years.Credit: Experience Gold Coast
The dance will continue all night and into Sunday morning, when visitors to the adjacent HOTA Farmers Markets will have something unusual to see alongside their fresh produce and bacon and egg rolls.
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On-water performances are a feature of this year’s Bleach festival, which will be Dennis’ last as artistic director.
“The Gold Coast is a sea city. It’s 70 kilometres long, and you’re never more than five minutes from a body of water,” she said.
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A floating stage on the Nerang River in the Broadbeach Cultural Precinct will host a free performance on Friday night titled Wayfinders: A Pacific Journey, featuring 70 voices from the Pacific region.
The same stage will host a lively brass band, Brass on the River, on Saturday night.
A dam on private property in Tallebudgera is the site of Slow Art – Sounds of the Valley, a showcase of fine food and new music by artists Erik Griswold, Christine Johnston, Bree van Reyk and Karl S. Williams, on August 10 and 11.
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Griswold’s performance on an old piano will end in an unusual fashion.
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“The piano is set on fire and he plays while it burns, so that will be pretty spectacular,” Dennis said.
The festival’s 13th year will involve more than 400 Australian and international creatives. Alongside music and theatre, there will be a special focus on dance.
Award-winning choreographer Lucy Guerin AO will showcase works including Duets, which is five two-person performances presented over four hours, alongside a 21-screen installation of archival works from her 21-year career.
The festival begins in North Burleigh at dawn on Thursday, August 1, with First Light, a free welcome concert featuring didgeridoo virtuoso William Barton.
Minister for the Arts Leeanne Enoch said Bleach “recognises the important role of the arts in strengthening our communities and cultural reputation as we prepare to host the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games”.
Bleach 2024 takes place on the Gold Coast from August 1-11.
